I am running the London Marathon on 24th April 2016 in support of the Brain and Spine Foundation – a charity set up in 1992 with the aim to improve the quality of life for people with neurological disorders and to reduce neurological disability.  

The Foundation provides support and quality information to people affected by brain and spine conditions, in order to reduce anxiety and help inform their choices.

The charity’s aims are close to my heart.   My dad suffered from both a brain tumour in his mid-40’s and, later on in his life, a serious bleed on his brain (a subarachnoid haemorrhage stroke) from which he endured prolonged periods of treatment and rehabilitation – he still suffers from the effects today.

The survival rate for people with brain tumours and stroke victims has improved in the last few decades, but those people who survive are often left with long-term problems and recovering from brain and spine conditions and procedures can be a slow and frustrating process and the people affected and their families usually have many questions about the way forward.

The Foundation has set up a free service Helpline (0808 808 1000) staffed by neuroscience nurses who are on hand to answer questions about all neurological conditions and offer information and support on any medical or related social and emotional issues of concern – and the charity provides freely accessible booklets and fact sheets on different brain and spine related conditions, procedures and symptoms. 

The marathon will be a massive challenge for me – I intend to train hard, raise as much money as possible for this great cause and give it my all come race day.  

Any money you can give in support of the Brain and Spine Foundation will be greatly appreciated by not only me, but also by the people you will help through funding the charity.